TWiN | This Weekend in Nashville | Nov. 25-27

We are publishing TWiN early this week, not only so we can take a holiday tomorrow, but, also, so you will have some extra time to scheme and daydream your weekend plans, while slumbering, stuffed with food, on the sofa. Head below to see all of our staff picks in this week’s edition of TWiN, and have a wonderful holiday weekend!

FRIDAY

Husband-wife duo Crushed Out play a bluesy, sun kissed, fuzzed out style of rock, and seem to be gaining momentum with the recent release of Alien Ocean. They will be celebrating that release with at The Cobra on Friday night, joined by local garage punks Heinous Orca and no wave rockers The Chewers. If you are in serious need of a rock show to amp yourself up for the beginning of the holiday season, this is a good bet. [MH]

SUN SEEKER w/ RANCH GHOST, DATENIGHT
@ The East Room | 8pm | $5 | 21+

After finishing all your Black Friday shopping (or boycotting such activities), head on over to The East Room to rock out with local talents Sun Seeker (read this post), Ranch Ghost, and Datenight, all for just $5! Also, with the idea of keeping this season about giving, canned food will be excepted with all donations going to the Second Harvest Food Bank. So shake that turkey hangover, and rock out for a good cause, with one of the best bills of the weekend. [JR]

This has been a shit year for music, given the deaths of artists like David Bowie, Prince, Sharon Jones, Leon Russell, Mose Allison,… and Leonard Cohen. One of the most prolific songwriters of all time, Cohen was revered across genres, and his work captured the hearts of fans, as well as a multitude of artists that covered his songs. You’ll be able to celebrate his life at The Basement on Friday night with a number of Nashville artists that were inspired by the legend including Wild Embry, Angel Snow, and Allen Thompson. If you have family in town and want to show them what makes Nashville’s music scene unique, this is a sure bet. [MH]

THE GOOD LIFE w/ FIELD MOUSE, JAKE BELLOWS
@ The High Watt | 9pm | $12 | 18+

What began as a solo outfit for Tim Kasher, the frontman of beloved emo/indie/post-hardcore outfit Cursive, a place for him to funnel softer, folkier sensibilities into very personal songwriting, The Good Life quickly morphed into a full band after forming more than 15 years ago, really settling to their sound by breakout 2003 third effort Album of the Year. After a bit of an extended hiatus, during which the core members occupied themselves with various other projects, The Good Life returned last year with their fifth full-length and first in eight years, Everybody’s Coming Down. Since then, the Omaha group have remained fairly active, and their return to The High Watt this weekend with Field Mouse and Jake Bellows definitely stands as one of the best under the radar holiday weekend happenings! [PO]

SATURDAY

THE HOWLIN’ BROTHERS
@ Acme Feed & Seed | 5:30pm | FREE | All Ages

Old timey string band The Howlin’ Brothers first caught our attention with their 2013 release, Howl, which features the amazingly catchy “Big Time” (which you can enjoy below). Formed by founding members Ian Craft (fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and kick-drum) and Jared Green (guitar, harmonica, and piano) while the two attended Ithaca College in New York, after relocating to Nashville in 2007, they soon met JT Huskey (upright bass), and the band was solidified. Think of them as a string band for the 21st century, incorporating rock, pop, gospel, jazz, r&b, dixieland, country, and blues all into a unique little three-piece package. Best part is this show is free, so if you like what you hear, get to Acme early to check out their set, and still have time to make other plans later. [JR]

Nashville native John Jackson was a well known entity in Music City in the ’80s, playing his brand of party rock with his band The Rhythm Rockers. His guitar work became so well known, that he found himself on tour with an impressive resume of employers, including Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Tom Jones, just to name a few. He’s getting the old band back together for a holiday celebration. If you have family in town, or just need a little nostalgia, this is a great choice. [MH]

Touring in support of his latest offering, So On and So Forth, folk pop-rock singer songwriter Griffin House is returning to Music City for a very intimate performance at City Winery. Now a local (via Springfield, OH), his music is the perfect blend of crafted lyrics, smooth harmony, and rich tone. So get to know/love another area talent, and sure to be there in person to help support your neighbor. [JR]

Forged from Nashville’s original 1980s punk scene, Raging Fire‘s six year run was both critically acclaimed and under-appreciated. Though they achieved initial success, even garnering the attention of major labels and foreshadowing the alt rock boom of the ’90s, the group had a hard time breaking out of a Nashville as a rock band, and their run remained largely relegated to musical history until last year, when the group reconvened, released a career-spanning anthology, and returned to performing and making new music. Easily one of Nashville’s first, best rock bands, Raging Fire easily could have been massively successful under different circumstances, and their reunion is one we feel especially fortunate to be able to witness. [PO]

It’s a pop night at The Basement on Saturday featuring the Oxford, MS based synth pop duo And The Echo, whose slightly dark leaning styling and femme vocals should be a sure fire bet for fans of Phantogram. Soulful local popster Aaron Krause, who has caught our attention of late, is set to open things up, along with New York based pop outfit Prom. [MH]

As we already previewed in detail, English indie duo Ultimate Painting are set to return to Music City this weekend in support of their fantastic third album, Dusk. With support from similarly hyped newcomers EZTV and locals Promised Land Sound, this is surely one of the weekend’s best guarantees for a good time, if you like hip, eclectic, and nostalgic rock. [PO]

BOOM BAP! ft. DJ YNOT
@ The Basement East | 9pm | $10 at door | 21+

It’s going down this weekend Nashville with Boom Bap!, the best hip hop dance party anywhere in Middle Tennessee. The monthly event features DJ YNot in charge of the 1s & 2s for the Novemebr installment. Over the course of a decade, he has established himself as one of Miami’s finest party rockers, refining his skills with help from new and old sounds alike. He’s come a long way from cutting/scratching records in his bedroom, to now bringing his crates all over Florida and beyond. Be there when he invades Music City, and be prepared to rock with one of the best! [JR]

Punk shows and DIY spaces go together like turkey and stuffing, and this weekend Meal Ticket will host fresh faced local punks The Dirty Delusions, who just released the fun track “Progress.” They’ll be joined by no holds barred rockers Patrimony and awesomely named experimental rockers Slurpasaur. [MH]

SUNDAY

This weekend, prominent West Nashville DIY venue Drkmttr has just the solution to shake off those “I hate talking about politics with my family at the Thanksgiving table” blues. Some of the best talent in this town such as Soccer Mommy and Cat Flaps will gather for a packed night of great music. Soccer Mommy just released an EP this summer, which you can sample a track from below; we still can’t get enough of it. Also playing are ambient pop band Ever and Nashville’s self-proclaimed greatest flex rapper Lil Baby Jesus. All proceeds go to the YWCA so come out and support a great cause. [JC]

Only a handful of tickets remain for Glass Animals‘ return to Nashville, which we previewed in detail right here. Their third Music City show in just as many years, and biggest to date, it’s no surprise that the English indie rockers are well on their way to selling out the Mother Church, since their fantastic sophomore album, How to Be a Human Being, has garnered tons of buzz and helped cement their status and one of the scene’s most promising rising acts. With a live show that’s unparalleled, this will serve as a magical way to end a holiday weekend. [PO]

Get ready for another great lineup, courtesy of Lightning 100’s Nashville Sunday Night. Fort Worth, TX based rockers Quaker City Night Hawks are headlining, and their brand of rock ’n roll is right out of 1975. Texas boogie meets Memphis soul and heavy blues sums them up nicely. Touring in support of their latest offering, El Astronauta, QCNH promise to melt some skulls, especially with the help friends of the blogBlackfoot Gypsies in the opening spot. Also, don’t forget that if you can’t be there in the flesh, the entire show will be broadcast live on Lightning 100, so if you love rock music, there really is no excuse for missing it completely. [JR]